There are less than 50 hours left in 2019, at least for locations which are six hours behind Greenwich Mean Time, or Central Standard Time in the United States and Canada.

Sorry for the long period without a post. Again, there just hasn’t been much to write about…at least anything good.

It has been a terrible December for me. Some of it is my own fault. Binging on Twinkies is never a good idea, especially for someone with Type 2 diabetes. It shot my blood sugar through the roof, and unfortunately, I have to live with my painful trigger finger for at least another eight months. My A1C may come down enough to allow for the surgery, but now I need to eat up my health insurance deductible and co-insurance.

Twinkies have a special place in my heart. When I was in elementary school, my mother sometimes packed Twinkies in my book bag for a snack. Many times they got crushed. I cried when it happened.

Every time I saw Twinkie the Kid on a package of Twinkies, I thought back to my early years. It made me cry sometimes. It made me smile others. And unfortunately, it also made me hungry. My willpower was zero at this time last month. Fortunately, I’ve been staring at four unopened boxes of Twinkies for the last five days and not given in to temptation.

The block of Roquefort I’m looking at is a much better alternative. Yes, it may be more expensive, but it has zero carbs. Maybe it’s time I indulge my cheese cravings in 2020. Or keep on eating bacon.

I tripped and badly bruised a bone in my right wrist in Hays when I went to visit Crista early this month. It still hurts.

LSU routed Oklahoma yesterday to reach the College Football Playoff final, where it plays Clemson January 13. I’m not too excited. I really don’t care. I’m not going to be there, and I’m no longer living in my native state.

The Sooners have become the 21st century version of Nebraska in the 1980s. The Cornhuskers mauled teams left and right in the regular season throughout that decade, but when it came time to win an important game, Tom Osborne’s team came up short, whether it be Barry Switzer’s Sooners in the regular season or in a bowl game.

From 1978-93, Nebraska was a pathetic 4-12 in bowl games. Three of those wins came at the expense of LSU (1982 Orange, 1984 Sugar, 1986 Sugar), and the other was against another SEC team, Mississippi State (1980 Sun).

Osborne won three national championships in his last four seasons to cement his legacy. Current Sooners coach Lincoln Riley may be piling up wins, but he is 0-3 in CFP games, all against SEC foes.

Until Riley gets over the first hump, he can’t try to get over the second. And if he doesn’t get over the second, he’ll be on the same pedestal as Chuck Fairbanks, one step below greatness. Switzer, Bud Wilkinson and Bob Stoops (who lost in the 2015 CFP semis to Clemson) all occupy the top rung in Norman, and with good reason.

Last year at this time, I wondered if LSU would ever play for a national championship again in my lifetime. After the woeful effort in the 2011 championship game (actually January 9, 2012) when LSU gained 92 total yards in losing to Alabama, I had serious doubts.

Yet here we are, with LSU 14-0 and 60 minutes away from its fourth title. Clemson is going to be a gut check for the Bayou Bengals, but at the same time, the Tigers from South Carolina have yet to face a dynamic offense like the one Joe Burrow has led this season.

The biggest winner is Ed Orgeron. This can’t be the same guy who went 10-25 at Ole Miss from 2005-07 and looked terrible doing it? It is. Right now, LSU athletic director Scott Woodward would choose Orgeron over anyone else, even if Nick Saban came crawling back and telling Woodward he would coach LSU again for free. Orgeron probably has the job as long as he wants, and unlike his predecessor, he probably will get to retire in Baton Rouge.

If LSU defeats Clemson, I hope everyone remembers that and doesn’t try to run Orgeron out of town the same way the late, great Charles McClendon was forced out in the late 1970s simply because he couldn’t beat Bear Bryant and Alabama. Same thing with Les Miles vs. Saban and Alabama. Orgeron has earned the right to keep the LSU job for the foreseeable future, win or lose vs. Clemson.

As for Louisiana’s professional football team, the Saints have to play in the wild card round. New Orleans hosts Minnesota, and the Saints have nobody to blame but themselves for having to play this coming weekend. Losing to the Falcons at home doesn’t cut it. Neither does giving up 48 points to the 49ers on your home field. Now the Saints will have to win in Green Bay and possibly San Francisco to get to the Super Bowl.

The Saints are 1-6 in road playoff games. And the “1” was a two-point squeaker in Philadelphia in 2013. Not promising.

Chiefs fans are deluding themselves into thinking this is the year they go to the Super Bowl for the first time in 50 years. Not happening. Yes, Kansas City got a bye today by defeating the Chargers and the Patriots choking at home to the Dolphins.

All that did was make sure the Patriots will come back to Arrowhead and end another Chiefs season. It would be delicious irony if the Chiefs’ playoff game was Jan. 11, because it would be EXACTLY 50 years since Super Bowl IV. I hope no Chiefs fans have booked non-refundable travel expenses to Miami for the Super Bowl, or to Baltimore for the AFC Championship. Kansas City won’t get past New England.

(The NFL spared the Chiefs that ignominy. Kansas City’s game is Sunday, January 12 at 2:05).

Better hope like hell the Titans pull off an upset, Chiefs Kingdom. Then again, DeShaun Watson already beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead, so doing it again isn’t a problem.

While LSU and Clemson start preparing for the only college football game left that matters (oops, make that one of two, because North Dakota State and James Madison have to play for the Division I FCS title Jan. 9), meaningless games resume tomorrow. Not interested.

Now there are 49 hours left in 2019 in these parts. Good night.